The challenges faced by individuals with disabilities in Palestine often remain under-researched, as other pressing issues take precedence, threatening the livelihoods and survival of Palestinians. Those with disabilities living in Palestine are often invisible as well as their everyday struggles which include inaccessible infrastructure. Roads and sidewalks, if sidewalks are available, in Palestine whether paved…
After the recent attacks on Gaza leaving six children dead, KinderUSA with our partners have determined the necessity to scale up summer activities for the children, prioritizing those areas greatly affected. In the last 24 months, children in Gaza have faced unprecedented violence, death, and destruction re-traumatizing them and worsening an already dire situation causing…
“Fuel is really a problem for everyone, along with electricity. Families cannot store food, nor can they cook. As a team we made the decision to distribute prepared meals so families can eat nutritiously,” said Loubane, Executive Director of FingerPrint of Change. Linked to the global food and fuel crisis coupled with three years of…
The ongoing assault on Gaza has killed tens of Palestinians, including six children, with hundreds more injured and left homeless. Innocent children and families always feel the force of the violence suffering death of loved ones and psychological damage for untold years. KinderUSA suspended two of our projects to protect our partners and beneficiaries. The…
Wafa, a student from northern California, is working on her Masters in Public Health. For the past six weeks she has been volunteering with our partner the Women’s Center in Shu’fat camp gathering data and working alongside the amazing team. Shu’fat camp, located in East Jerusalem, houses an estimated 125,000 occupants, many of whom are…
Hammam, a 36 year old father of 7 is one of the families who struggles daily to feed his children. Like many fathers his age, job opportunities are non-existent so he, along with his wife, collect plastic dishes, sterilizes, and sells them for approximately $4 a day. Living in a one room house donated to…
Join us in celebrating 20 years caring for the children in Palestine! September 24 in Glendale, CA.
We will have two speakers at our event. More details to follow. Mark your calendars.
Zana, a mother of 9, was abandoned by her husband 3 years ago, unable to cope with the various medical needs several of his children needed and no funds to meet the demands. “He left me facing life alone after discovering that his children suffer from a severe deficiency in the immune system. I am…
A recent report published by Save the Children (SC) found that four out of five children in Gaza suffer from depression, sadness, and fear resulting from a 15-year blockade that witnessed “six life threatening situations” which includes deadly assaults on the population and a pandemic. KinderUSA is providing some relief with our Gaza summer camp…
Gazans continue to struggle in a region with massive unemployment, toxic water, and crumbling infrastructure under a blockade of land and sea for 15 years. Food and fuel enter Gaza based upon “mathematical formulas” determined by the occupying forces, in a drip-feeding fashion, or just “enough for survival” according to the Amnesty International February 2022…
The challenges faced by individuals with disabilities in Palestine often remain under-researched, as other pressing issues take precedence, threatening the livelihoods and survival of Palestinians. Those with disabilities living in Palestine are often invisible as well as their everyday struggles which include inaccessible infrastructure. Roads and sidewalks, if sidewalks are available, in Palestine whether paved or not paved are often hilly, narrow, uneven, and overcrowded at times.
A boy pushes his friend in a wheelchair down the streets of the camp. (Malik Hamamra/Mondoweiss) Aida Refugee Camp, Occupied West Bank, May 2023.
A group of tech enthusiasts in middle school and high schol from Bethlehem had the opportunity to attend Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation workshops implemented by our partner Ibtikar. Hedaya, Layan, Yara, Fouad, Andrianna, Mariella, and Sadeen share a common passion for technology, coding, and creating applications that address real-world challenges. Through the workshops they attended these young change-makers conceived a compelling social initiative aimed at assisting people with disabilities in Palestine. Leveraging their coding expertise, they envisioned a solution that utilizes AI technology and sensors to make a meaningful difference.
The Solution
The team proposed the creation of special parking spaces for people with disabilities, integrating AI and sensors for efficiency and enforcement. These smart parking spots will automatically notify authorities if unauthorized vehicles occupy these designated spaces, enhancing safety and accessibility.
From a personal connection to encounters in their neighborhoods, the team has witnessed the urgent need for inclusive infrastructure. The team noticed frequent misuse of parking spaces designated for people with disabilities. They observed some drivers opting to park illegally in these spots when regular parking was unavailable, showing a lack of consideration and care. As they explored their city, the group realized the lack of essential infrastructure to accommodate the needs of people with disabilities. The absence of ramps, elevators, and accessible public spaces highlighted the urgency of addressing disability rights. The scarcity of designated parking spaces for people with disabilities further fueled their interest in disability rights. They recognized that these few spaces were crucial for enabling mobility and independence.
Donate today to support compassionate, forward-thinking leaders like these who are shaping a more inclusive and equitable world. Their dedication to leveraging technology for social good demonstrates the transformative power of youth-driven initiatives.
A group of Young Innovators: Hedaya, Layan, Yara, Fouad, Andrianna, Mariella, and Sadeen (not pictured).
After the recent attacks on Gaza leaving six children dead, KinderUSA with our partners have determined the necessity to scale up summer activities for the children, prioritizing those areas greatly affected. In the last 24 months, children in Gaza have faced unprecedented violence, death, and destruction re-traumatizing them and worsening an already dire situation causing further psychosocial stress in their day-to-day life.
A recent study through the end of 2022 found that more than two-thirds of children surveyed in Gaza experienced “below-average” levels of well-being and “conflict-related trauma”. Adding to the most recent assaults, the impact has left unimaginable scars of hopelessness and insecurity on these fragile young lives who should never have to consider whether they will survive the next attack.
Working with our partners and mentors to guide the activities, KinderUSA will implement summer events in eight of the affected areas in Gaza where one hundred children a day will participate in basketball competitions, dribbling and passing balls, mural painting and more in 14 safe play areas. Each day will end with a nutritious meal, which many of the children look forward to as they are often provided only one meal a day in the summer due to current economic conditions.
“Last year the children saw the bus coming and started shouting Kinder, Kinder!”, said our field coordinator. “More children participated than we identified which was both a challenge and a measure of the need.”
For decades now, children in Gaza have faced an endless cycle of violence, death, and destruction, coupled with a suffocating 16 year blockade of land, air, and sea, extracting a toll on their well-being and changing them forever. We are asking our donors today to help KinderUSA bring some joy in the lives of these children by donating whatever is meaningful to you. Thank you for your continued compassion.
“Fuel is really a problem for everyone, along with electricity. Families cannot store food, nor can they cook. As a team we made the decision to distribute prepared meals so families can eat nutritiously,” said Loubane, Executive Director of FingerPrint of Change.
Linked to the global food and fuel crisis coupled with three years of severe economic and financial crisis, Lebanon is witnessing public services failing its population while the price of food items soars out of reach for most. With the war in Ukraine where 70% of Lebanon’s wheat came from along with depleted reserves due to the explosion in Beirut’s’ port, wheat is very difficult to procure, and families wait for hours in line for bread.
Palestinians living in the camps in Lebanon are not able to secure enough food to feed their families. With prices for food, medicine, fuel and rent continuing to rise, the level of poverty among Palestinian refugees is also increasing, now recorded at 86 percent according to the United Nation.
This is equally true for Syrians in informal settlements across the country, and impoverished Lebanese many of whom are now homeless. Access to healthcare, electricity, and clean water is also out of reach with families turning to aid groups for assistance.
Our partner on the ground, FingerPrint of Change, has begun distribution of freshly prepared food to 1600 families in the camps of Sabra and Shatila and Burj el Barajneh, along with settlements in Bekaa, and the south for the month of August. The food is prepared by women who are paid a small stipend, with all the ingredients bought locally to help boost the local economy.
This is an ongoing crisis in Lebanon where the country hosts the largest number of refugees “per capita per square kilometer in the world” according to the United Nations. Like all communities in Lebanon, refugees are making difficult choices to survive such as going without meals, necessary health care, and sending children to find work instead of going to school.
KinderUSA hopes to continue this project of food assistance to the most vulnerable beyond August. but we need your help. Please consider making an online donation today of $50, $100, $250 or whatever is meaningful to you. Thank you for your continued humanity.
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The ongoing assault on Gaza has killed tens of Palestinians, including six children, with hundreds more injured and left homeless. Innocent children and families always feel the force of the violence suffering death of loved ones and psychological damage for untold years.
KinderUSA suspended two of our projects to protect our partners and beneficiaries. The emergency food distribution for families still trying to recover from the 2021 assault and Covid. Also, the Palestinian Music Festival for the children in Khan Younis, home to where a five-year-old innocent girl was killed.
Our staff and partners are huddled at home, along with all Gazan’s, fearful of the next target.
KinderUSA emergency food distribution will resume once it is safe for staff and beneficiaries to move about. With Gaza in a state of perpetual humanitarian crisis, the situation is desperate: more than 80% of the population is in need of aid with a 15 year blockade of land, air, and sea coupled with successive wars. The Music Festival for children will regroup and determine the best opportunity for the children to gather together outdoors for a day of fun and entertainment.
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Wafa, a student from northern California, is working on her Masters in Public Health. For the past six weeks she has been volunteering with our partner the Women’s Center in Shu’fat camp gathering data and working alongside the amazing team.
Shu’fat camp, located in East Jerusalem, houses an estimated 125,000 occupants, many of whom are permanent residents. It was initially established by UNRWA in 1965 in order to provide a safe haven for 500 families who were dispossessed and displaced, and continues to increase in capacity. Within the camp, there are significant food and water shortages as well as an overburdened sanitation system, leading to unsafe living conditions. The women and children, who are disproportionately affected by social and economic factors, face the greatest challenges and are amongst the most medically vulnerable. As a result, they must inadvertently compete for limited resources including food, water, and access to healthcare.
A common question they asked me was “Which is more beautiful, Palestine or America?” and before I could respond, they’d follow with “Palestine, of course.” And I naturally agreed.
This summer, thanks to the Women’s Center- Shu’fat Camp (WCSHC), I was afforded the opportunity to witness the significant impact that KinderUSA has had on the lives of Palestinian children in East Jerusalem. I spent a few weeks assisting the lovely staff at WCSHC with three concurrent summer camp programs, two of which were in Bedouin encampments. Through my interactions with the children, I learned about their motivations and ambitions, and they inquired about my experience living in America (many of them had never met an American and were quite fascinated by me).
The camp(s) participants are incredibly grateful for the on-going support, which is evidenced by their excitement at the mention of KinderUSA. The sponsored programs not only unify the children, but also give them something to look forward to on a daily basis. Moreover, I can attest to the success of this initiative and hope it continues for the sake of the underserved children of East Jerusalem and beyond.
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Hammam, a 36 year old father of 7 is one of the families who struggles daily to feed his children. Like many fathers his age, job opportunities are non-existent so he, along with his wife, collect plastic dishes, sterilizes, and sells them for approximately $4 a day. Living in a one room house donated to the family, he recently had to move to an UNRWA school due to the unbearable heat and elements of the summer.
“I have been responsible for myself since I was 8 when my mother died. I work hard to provide food for my children and protect them from any unethical behavior,” said Hammam. His wife continues, “ We could not live like other people, we always face problems because of our bad situation. Because of this situation, we have accumulated debts which has reached $586 to the supermarket and we were not able to pay.”
A recipient of the emergency distribution, 1000 families like Hamman’s received fresh vegetables, fruit, diary, and chickens just before the start of Eid al Adha. “My refrigerator was empty for a week and now I can cook fresh vegetables for my children. Words aren’t enough to express our appreciation of KinderUSA and Beit Lahia [KinderUSA implementing partner]. This wonderful food basket made my family and me very happy!” said Hammam’s wife.
For 20 years, together, we have made a difference in the lives of thousands of children in Palestine and beyond. Thank you to all who continue to support the work of KinderUSA.
Join us in celebrating 20 years caring for the children in Palestine! September 24 in Glendale, CA.
We will have two speakers at our event. More details to follow. Mark your calendars.
Zana, a mother of 9, was abandoned by her husband 3 years ago, unable to cope with the various medical needs several of his children needed and no funds to meet the demands. “He left me facing life alone after discovering that his children suffer from a severe deficiency in the immune system. I am facing my destiny alone without any help”, said Zana to our representatives on the ground.
Now In our final stages of KinderUSA’s Emergency Food Distribution, our effort helps to fill the gap in nutrition for families like Zana and her children. The family lives in a 3-room house that is in need of repair from a fire in May 2014 and the assault on Gaza in May 2021. The roof of their home has metal sheets which forces them to leave in the summer from the excessive heat and to live with cold and rain in the winter.
The Emergency Food Distribution program is a continuation of our Ramadan distribution. Targeting 1000 families with no or limited income living in 12 marginalized areas of Gaza. Families are receiving fresh vegetables, fruit, dairy, chickens, and more. The project contracts 20 small scale farmers and 10 women cooperatives who equally benefit through the work provided, caring for their own families.
“I was super happy when I received a message [on the distribution], in that time my refrigerator was empty. When we received the food basket, we were all very happy and I felt the world was better. It contained 18 different types of fresh vegetables, including chicken and eggs,” said Zana.
A recent report published by Save the Children (SC) found that four out of five children in Gaza suffer from depression, sadness, and fear resulting from a 15-year blockade that witnessed “six life threatening situations” which includes deadly assaults on the population and a pandemic.
KinderUSA is providing some relief with our Gaza summer camp for children in partnership with Beit Lahia. More than 1400 children are participating in basketball, mural painting, cultural competitions, and more. One young man, Ameer, aged 10, has had a very difficult life after his father left the family and he is now being raised by his grandparents. The SC report identifies caregivers’ inability to care for their children physically and psychologically with some leaving rather than face what they perceive as failure.
Wanting to join all the activities provided, Ameer was overwhelmed with joy. “What a day, this is one of my best days ever; I’m thrilled to be here, I like singing, and I asked the coach to give me the microphone to sing; I hope next time I will come with my sister, words cannot describe my happiness,” Ameer said!
In the forward of the SC report children wrote that “they want Gaza to be a safe and beautiful place where they can live in peace.” So do we.
Gazans continue to struggle in a region with massive unemployment, toxic water, and crumbling infrastructure under a blockade of land and sea for 15 years. Food and fuel enter Gaza based upon “mathematical formulas” determined by the occupying forces, in a drip-feeding fashion, or just “enough for survival” according to the Amnesty International February 2022 report Israel’s apartheid against Palestinians: a cruel system of domination and a crime against humanity.
For Basma who lives in Gaza, and the sole support for her family of 9, life is a daily struggle to survive. Her husband is imprisoned for debt owed his creditors. Unemployed, he tried unsuccessfully to support his family and now Basma, 42, does what she can to keep food on the family table. Along with her 12-year-old son, they work collecting empty soft drink cans generating an income of approximately 5 shekels a day ($1.47).
“The problem is that after [my husband] was imprisoned, all ways were cut off for us and I was not able to find food for my children, so I went looking for a job but I didn’t find anything except collecting empty cans,” said Basma. A beneficiary of the Ramadan Food Distribution, “my life has changed” according to Basma who received two distributions containing fresh vegetables, maftoul, jam, eggs, live chickens, cheese, and more. Really, I and my children are very happy for this food basket. A lot of thanks for Kinder-USA and I hope from Kinder-USA continues to provide this assistance because it is really a very wonderful help in terms of quantities, quality and satisfy my family need.”
KinderUSA with our partner Beit Lahia are continuing fresh food distribution to 1000 families like Basma and her family. For as little as $65, you can provide fresh food to families who are doing their best to feed their children.
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We envision a free, just and peaceful Palestine where children thrive and look forward to a productive future, like children everywhere.
